Box forming system



Jan. 24, 1939. H. LANGE ET AL V BOX FORMING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l Mm/,6 H LHNGEINVENTORS BY CHARLES H- V/TSCH 2! Q21; ATTORNEY.

Jan. 24, 1939.

L. H. LANGE ET AL BOX FORMING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 QBN NA MN mm m @444 n\%@ W mm o O O O O l m mm 8 E Q 13.11.24, 1939. L H, -GE Er AL 2,144,764

BOX FORMING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 6 H. LAA/GE C'HA R LES l l. NITSCH M MS A TTORNEY.

Jan. 24, 1939. L. H. LANGE ET AL 2,144,764

BOX FORMING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS MD W /l. L/i/VGE CHARLES H, lV/TSc/y Jan. .24, 1939. L. HJILANGE ET -AL' BOX FORMING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1937 INVENTOKS v LUDW/G ML/I N65 BY CHARLES H, N/rscy ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 STATES PATENT QFFIQE BOX FORMING SYSTEM Ludwig H. Lange and Charles H. Nitsch, Philadelphia, Pa, assignors to Stokes and Smith Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of lennsylvania Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,280

26 Claims. (Cl. 93-54.2)

Fig. 14 is a. cross-sectional view on enlarged scale of the vacuum housing of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of valve mechanism for controlling the vacuum in the housing of Figs.

In accordance with our invention, movement 13 and 14; 5 of a conveyor for transporting sheets toward one Fig. 16 is a detail view in end elevation of stop mechanism, specifically a box machine, from anand registering devices. shown in preceding figother mechanism, specifically mechanism for ures. feeding wrappers or tabs from a supply thereof Referring to Fig. 1, the box machine M is generw and coating them with adhesive, is initiated by ally of the type shown in Smith U. S. Patent one of the mechanisms, specifically the box ma- #691,329, and more specifically of the type shown chine, and is terminated by the other mechanism; in Rider et al., U. S. Patent #1074561. The main more particularly, the conveyor so controlled decam 1 attached to shaft 2 is driven from a motor livers the sheets to a second conveyor, the begin- 266 (Fig. 11) through the clutch comprising the ning and termination of whose movement are driving element 3 and the driven element 4. The 16 controlled by one of the mechanisms, specifically operator, to initiate operation of the machine, the box machine. depresses the pedal 5 causing the arm is to with- Further in accordance with our invention, the draw a pin 1 from engagement with the adjustsecond conveyor is operated to move for a pre able cam 8 rotatable with shaft 2; a spring 201 determined fixed fraction of the cycle of the box (Fig. 11) is thereupon effective to move the driven 20 machine, and to adapt the system for sheets of clutch element 4 into driving engagement with the different sizes, the duration of movement of the driven clutch member 3; at the end of one revofirst conveyor is varied to provide for delivery lution of shaft 2 the cam. 8 through pin 7 rocks of the sheets by the first conveyor at a, predeterthe bell-crank lever 9 in clockwise direction 130 mined fixed region, more specifically, at a transwithdraw the driven clutch member 4 and so in- 25 fer station adjacent the path of the form-block terrupt operation of the machine, provided the structure of the box machine. operator does not hold the pedal 5 depressed, in

Our invention further resides in the features which event the cycle repeats. of construction, combination and arrangement During revolution of the 0am the form hereinafter described and claimed. block F, comprising the upper form UF and the 30 For an understanding of our invention and for lower form LF is moved from the position shown illustration of a preferred form thereof, reference in F g- 1 d0 Wa d y in a p jace Va i us is to be had to the accompanying drawings in sheet-appl n ols and hen e ba k to i s ori which: inal position shown in Fig. 1. This movement 5 Figure l is a front elevational View of a box of the form block and relative movements with machine and a portion of a conveying system r spe to each other of the forrmblock p therefor; nents UF and LF are effected by the levers N] Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, on enlarged and it provided, respectively, with cam followers scale, showing parts appearing in Fig. 1; l2 and i3 which ride in the cam grooves 84 and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one of the trans- E5 of cam I. As well understood in the art, the 40 fer devices in position different from that of Fig. size of the form block is selected to suit the par- 2; ticular boxes to be made or wrapped by the ma- Fig. 4 is a detail view showing another transfer chine.

device of Fig. 2 in a different stage of operation The various sheet-app g tools, including the or in different operating condition; side rolls [6, end rolls not shown, marginal turn- 45 Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional plan views of valve in toOlS and Dresser blocks are a d y mechanism shown in Fig. 2; four tool slides l9 adjustably secured to the table Figs. 7 to 10, in perspective, show the transfer 0 0f the machine and each provided Wi an devices of Fig. 2 in variousoperating positions; Ope member 2! adjust/ably secured to a Figs. 11 and 12, in perspective, show the essenbar 22 extending from a slidable sleeve 23 contial elements of the mechanisms which control neoted by link 24 to a lever 25 carrying a cam the feeding of sheets to the box machine; follower 26 received by groove 27 of cam 28 dis- Fig. 13, in perspective, shows avacuum housing posed on the one-time shaft 2 of the machine. at the transfer station at the delivery end of one During the cycle of the machine, the sleeve 23 is 55 of the conveyors of Fig. 11; reciprocated to effect the various sheet-applying operations of the tools, all as more fully shown and described in the aforesaid Rider patent.

The conveyor C is intermittently operated, as hereinafter more specifically described, making one step for each cycle of the box machine M, to transport adjacent to the form-block structure F box structures, wrappers, groups of tabs, or specifically assemblies, such as shown, for example, in Stokes U. S. Patent #2,015,202, each comprising an unstayed box or component of a multi-piece box to which is attached partially applied sheet material. The sheet material partially applied to an unstayed box may simply be tabs, or a wrapper having tabs thereon, or an untabbed wrapper. Alternatively, each of the assemblies may comprise a previously stayed box and a partially applied tabbed or untabbed wrapper. Conveyor C, preferably of the suction type as in Davis U. S. Patent #l,818,198, may transport the wrappers from a gluing machine G, Fig. 11, such as shown in Rider U. S. Patent #1357360 or Federwitz U. S. Patent $7 1,772,344, and at an intermediate point between the gluing machine and the wrapping machine an operator may manually register boxes on the wrappers to form the assemblies, or this operation of forming assemblies may be performed automatically, as by mechanism disclosed in Stokes Patent #2918337.

For purposes of explaining the operation of the machine, the assemblies operated upon each comprises a one-piece unstayed box B, and a onepiece wrapper W to which tabs t are previously applied as by mechanism of the aforesaid Rider patent. The conveyor C is preferably of the suction type so that the wrappers are held flat by suction at least until they pass the assembly station at suitable point along the suction housing H.

As each assembly A in turn arrives in position adjacent the form block, the leading edge or end of the box structure B is engaged by an adjustable stop member 29 extending transversely of the conveyor belt C and held in position slightly above it by the bolt 39a, Fig. 2, which clamps stop 29 to the plate I01 for supporting conveyor belt C. The spacing of the stop 29 above the conveyor permits the leading end of the wrapper to pass below it without obstruction, yet permits the stop 29 to engage the forward end of the stayed or unstayed box. The stop 29, as appears in Fig. 11, is in alignment or registry with one end of the form-block structure F. This element of itself is not sufficient to provide for registry of the box or unstayed box with the form block because of the tendency of the box structure to rebound from or ride over the stop; further, when the box structure is an unstayed blank, the end wall is not erected and, therefore, although the forward edge of the blank might remain against the stop 29 upon termination of the conveyor movement, the blank, if moved transversely of the conveyor into the path of the form block, would not be in alignment or registry with the form block.

To preclude the possibility of a box, particularly an unstayed box, from riding up and possibly over stop 29, there is attached thereto or made part thereof, an auxiliary stop member 29a, Fig. 16, preferably having a horizontal section extending from the top of stop 29 toward the receiving end of conveyor C and a vertical section extending downwardly to suitable extent from the forward end of member 29a.

To prevent bounding of the box, or unstayed blank, away from stop 29, there is provided the housing I50, Fig. 13, Whose upper wall I5! is perforated to permit application of suction through conveyor belt C upon an assembly approaching stop 29. The interior of housing I50 is connected to a suction pump, by pipe I52, hose I53, valve housing I54, Fig. 15, and hose I55. The suction or vacuum is reduced or broken at suitable time in the cycle of the system to avoid hindrance to movement, by mechanism hereinafter described, of the assembly from position above the suction housing transversely of belt C. The timing of the application of suction is controlled by cam I56, Figs. 11 and 15, on shaft I51 of the box machine which makes one revolution for each shaft of the machine. As shown in Fig. 15, the bleeder valve I58 is biased to its closed position by spring I59 which maintains engagement of cam follower I60 on arm IBI with the suction control cam I51.

To insure proper alignment of the box structure with the form block, and additionally in the case of the unstayed blank to erect the end walls of the blank, there is provided an aligning or registering mechanism R comprising the arm 32, Fig. 2, attached to shaft 33 and having at its free end a box-engaging member 33a which, when the arm 32 is in its lower position, Fig. 8, preferably just clears the top of the conveyor belt C and which, when in its upper position, Figs. 2 and 7, is out of the path of box structures on the conveyor to avoid obstruction to their movement toward the stop 29. When the member 33a is in its down position, Fig. 8, it is in alignment with one end of the form block F, and the stop 29, as previously stated, is in alignment with the opposite end of the form block. Preferably for unstayed blanks, there should be provided the stop 3312, or equivalent, adjustably attached to the arm 32, Fig. 16, to limit the bending movement of the rear side panel of the blank when engaged or struck by the registering member 33a. The swinging movement of the arm 32 is, therefore, effective, in the case of stayed boxes, to align them with the form block, and in case of unstayed boxes, performs the additional func tion of erecting the box ends so that they are in alignment with the ends of the form block structure F.

Preferably, the shape and angular position of cam I58, Fig. 15, is such that the suction in housing I50 is suitably reduced or cut off during registration of an assembly by mechanism R and remains off during transfer of the registered assembly by mechanisms hereinafter described.

The aligned or registered box structure is moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 toward the path of the form block F by transfer mechanism P including the arm 35 pivotally mounted at one end to the reciprocable carriage 35 and at its other end having a suction plate 31 for engagement with a box structure on the conveyor C. During movement of the conveyor C the arm 35 is in its upper position, Figs. 2 and 7, permitting the box structures to move with the conveyor without obstruction by arm 35 or the suction plate 31.

After the box structure has been aligned by the registering mechanism R, as above described, the arm 35 is rocked in clockwise direction to effect engagement of the suction plate 31 with the box blank, Fig. 8. This movement of the arm 35 is effected by the mechanism now described. Arm 35 is attached to shaft 38, Fig. 7, supported by the brackets 39 of carriage 3B and to shaft 38 is also attached the arm 40 upon the end of which is mounted a roller 4| received by a groove or slot 42 in the member 43, Fig. 2, from which depend the supporting members 44, 45 pivotally mounted to the arms 46, 41'

of bell-crank levers 48, 49 supported from the bracket 50 attached to the main frame of the machine. The arms 52 of the bell-crank levers 48, 49 are pivotally connected to the bar 53 which extends toward the rear of the machine and is there pivotally connected to the lower end of a lever 54, Fig. 10, supported by, and free to rotate with respect to, the shaft 55. From lever 54 extends the arm 56 having thereon a cam follower 51 for engaging the cam 58 formed on the under side of the cam member 59, Fig. 2, which rotates with shaft 2. Lever 54 is biased, as by a spring not shown, to maintain engagement of follower 57 with cam 58.

When the cam follower 51 moves upwardly under the control of cam 58, the lever 54 swings in clockwise direction to effect movement in the same direction of bell-crank levers 48, 49, thus lifting the grooved member 43 to swing the arm 35 in clockwise direction to effect engagement of the suction plate 37 with a registered box structure, Fig. 8. While the arm 35 remains in this angular position with respect to its shaft 38, the carriage 36 is moved toward the path of the form block to move the box structure to the position shown in Fig. 9. The mechanism for effecting this movement of the carriage is now described.

As shown in Figs. 2 and '7, the carriage 36 is supported by the two guide rods 3!! whose ends are supported by the bracket 59. One end of the link El is connected at 62 to the carriage 36 and the other end of the link is connected, at the rear of the machine, to the lower end of a lever 63 attached to the shaft 55. The arm 64 of lever 63, Fig. 2, carries the cam follower 55 received by the groove 66 in the cam member 59 on shaft 2.

When, during the cycle of the machine, the lever 63 is swung in counterclockwise direction, the bar 6! is moved to the right, Fig. 2, to move the carriage 36 and the arm 35 thereon toward the path of the form block thus moving the box structure or assembly to the position shown in Fig. 9. After a predetermined dwell, the rise of cam 58 engages the cam follower 5'! on lever 54' to move the link or bar 53 to the right, Fig. 2, to lower the member 43 and so cause the pusherarm 35 to swing in counterclockwise direction to its upper position, shown in Fig. 2; concurrently, the cam track 68 causes the arm 63 to swing in clockwise direction, moving the bar 6 l to the left, and so returns the carriage 38 and arm 35 to its original position, shown in Fig. '7. The arm 35 remains in its upper position until after the conveyor has moved a box blank into engagement with the stop 29, and the registering mechanism R has aligned the next box structure to be transferred.

The movement of the arm 32 and box-engaging member 33a of the aligning mechanism R is derived from the member 43 whose reciprocation controls the movement of the pusher member 35. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8, to the front end of the shaft 33 which supports the arm 32 of the aligning member is attached the arm 58 connected by link 69 to a lever Ill pivoted on bracket ll adjust-ably secured to bar Ha. The roller 12 on arm ii! is received by a slot 13 in the extension '34, Fig. 2, of the vertically reciprocating mem ber 43.

When member 43 is lifted under the control of cam 58 to swing the arm 35 from the position shown in Fig. '7 to the box-engaging position shown in Fig. 8, aligning arm 32 is therefore concurrently swung from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8 to register the stayed or unstayed box in anticipation of its movement towards the form block by the pusherarm 35. During the forward movement of the pusher-arm, the aligning member 33a remains in its down position and serves as a guide for the box structure during its movement toward the position shown in Fig. 9.

When the member 43 is moved downwardly under the control of cam 58 to swing the arm 35 upwardly away from the conveyor, the operating arm 19 for the aligning member 3311 is concurrently operated to swing the arm 32 from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, the arms 35 and 32 remaining in their upper positions until the member 43 is raised in the next cycle of the machine, thus to avoid obstruction to movement of the box structures toward stop 29.

To transfer the assembly A from the position shown in Fig. 10, into the path of the form block, Fig. '7, there are provided the members l4, l4 adjustably secured to the bars l5, 15 which, in turn, are adjustably secured to the movable supporting member 16 at the rear of the machine. The members 14, 14 of the second transfer device T extend from the rear of the machine, straddle the form block, and upon reciprocation of the supporting member 16 move from the box-receiving position of Fig. 9 above the conveyor and displaced from the center thereof toward the form block to the box-discharging position of Fig. '7. At their forward ends the members '44, M are provided with box-engaging or holding members Ti, 11. The distance between members ll, 1'! is adjustable to correspond to the length of the box structure to be transferred, the extreme outer ends of members Ti preferably being slightly flared to facilitate entry of a box between the members. The inner faces of members H, T! are provided with ports 18 through which suction may be applied to hold the box against these members which serve as suction-type grippers. For application of suction to the ports 18, the members 14, 14 are hollow and connect at their rear ends with the suction hose 19. Each of the members TI, TI is provided'with a stop 88 defining the limit of movement of the box structure by the pusher arm 35. From each of the members 74, 14 depends a supporting member 8| adapted, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, to pass beneath and support the leading panel of a wrapper attached to the box structure to be transferred into the path of the form block; members 84 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 8, with suction ports 8| 0.. The member 81 keeps the leading panel of the wrapper out of contact with parts of the mechanism, for example, the platen 82 (Figs. 9, 10, 11), during the transfer of the assembly to the position shown in Fig. 7 above the platen which is biased to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7, as by a spring, not shown.

The carriage comprising the members 14, i4 is reciprocated between its box-receiving position above the conveyor belt and its box-discharging position in the path of the form block F by the mechanism now described. The supporting structure 16 for members l4, 14' is connected by link 83 to the lower end of arm 34 pivoted at its upper end to the bracket member 85 and connected by link 86 to arm 81 attached to the operif/11g staff if [tr lie earlitge I! 0! tie other transfer device 35.

Concurrently with movement of carriage 36 towards the path of the form block of the wrapping machine to effect transfer of a box structure by arm 35 from the aligning station, the members 14, M are therefore moved from the position shown in Fig. 7 toward the box-receiving position shown in Fig. 9, the relative movement of the two transfer devices causing the box structure to be transported from the position shown in Fig. 8 transversely of the conveyor to the position shown in Fig. 9 at which it is received by the box-holding members H, 11. The distance between the center lines of the conveyor and of the form block is fixed for all sizes of boxes within the range of the machine; the strokes of the two transfer devices are therefore fixed and each follows the law of harmonic motion insuring smooth operating action.

Preferably before the box structure is moved from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, the suction applied through the suction plate 3'! to the box structure is cut off and substantially concurrently the suction is applied or increased through the ports 18 of the box-engaging members TI, TI. The valve mechanism for shifting the application of suction from one of the transfer devices to the other is shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The piston 88 of the suction valve V is connected by link 89 to the arm 90 rockable by the cam 9| on shaft 2 of the box machine. As the pusher-arm 35 and the carriage members 14, 14, are moving toward each other, the valve piston 88 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, providing a path for suction through the plate 31, flexible hose 92, pipe 93, port 94 of valve V, about the piston 58, and thence through port 95 and pipe 96 to the intake of a suction pump not shown. The port 9'! of the valve is blocked by the piston 88, preventing application of suction through the ports l8 and 81a of the box-engaging member ll, 11 and 8!, 8| respectively, of the transfer carriage.

Substantially concurrently with the raising of arm 35 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the piston valve is moved from the position shown in Fig. 6

to the position shown in Fig. 5 to close the port 94 and so discontinue application of suction through the plate 31 and substantially concurrently to permit application of suction through the port 97 which is in communication with the suction ports 18 and Sin of the carriage members 14, H. Suction may be continuously exerted through the ports 18 until the arm 25 moves from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8, at which time suction is transferred to the suction plate 31 to hold the box blank to the member 35 for its movement toward the form block or, more specifically, to the box-receiving position of the carriage members l4, 14.

Preferably, the transfer devices, the conveyor C, and the form block of the wrapping machine are so timed that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 10 at or just before the end of the cycle of the machine. As there indicated, the finished box has been, or is being ejected by the ejector 98, the conveyor C is stationary, the carriage members 14, M are in their box-receiving position, the pusher member 35 has completed its transfer movement of a box structure, and members 35 and the aligning member 33a are in their raised positions.

W116i] 116 operator presses the pedal 5, th

two transfer devices move away from one another, the carriage members 14, '14 moving assembly A to the position shown in Fig. 7, in the path of the descending form block F, and the other transfer device comprising arm 35 returning to its position above the aligning station, Fig. '7. .While the two transfer devicesremain stationary at these positions, the form block in its descent carries the assembly from the position shown in Fig. 7 downwardly adjacent the various sheet-applying tools, and during this dwcli of the transfer device the conveyor C operates to bring another box structure or assembly against the stop 29. The carriage is free to move its box-receiving position as soon as the descending form block has removed the assembly therefrom. For holding the box end against the form block until operation of the corner-lap tools, which apply the flaps ,f of the wrapper to the box ends, there may be utilized the holders we of the type described in Lange application Serial #556,591, filed June 22, 1936, or in lieu thereof, the form block F may be of the suction type disclosed in Rider application Serial #863221, filed June 20, 1936.

While the conveyor C is stationary, the member 33a of mechanism R swings from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8 to align a box structure or assembly with the form block, and the member 35 swings downwardly into engagement with the registered box structure, the valve V causing suction to be applied to the box structure through the plate 31 on arm 35. Substantially concurrently with interruption of movement of the conveyor, the two transfer devices move toward each other, the arm 35 moving the box assembly to the position shown in Fig. 9, and the carriage members 14 concurrently moving to the position shown in Fig. 9 to receive the box. During this movement of the transfer devices, and while they are still in the position shown in Fig. 9, the form block F may substantially complete its upward movement, the completed box having been removed therefrom by the stripper rods 99. Before the end of the cycle of the machine, the pusher-arm 35 and the aligning arm 32 may be swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 10 to avoid obstruction to the next assembly to be or being transported to the registering station.

The aligning mechanism R, and the transfer mechanisms P and 74 are specifically claimed in copending Lange application Serial No. 52,354, filed July 7, 1937,

The conveyor C is driven, Fig. 11, from shaft 7 2 in timed relation to the movement of the form block F by mechanism including the train of gears 12-405, mutilated bevel-gear I96, bevel gear H31, a selective gear transmission 108, whose use is optional, and driving roll I09. During each cycle of the machine M, the gear I96 drives the conveyor belt C for a definite fraction of the cycle to move the wrappers or assemblies through a predetermined distance. Preferably, the timing relation of gear I66 to shaft 2 is such that movement of conveyor 0 begins substantially concurrently with tripping of the gluing machine G by cable H0, for example, at about 60 of the cycle of machine M, and ends at about the time the transfer devices P and R begin to move toward each other, for example, at about 20 of the cycle of machine M.

At one end. the cable H0 is connected to the pivoted arm HI biased toward the cam H2 on the main shaft 2 and at its other end is connected to lever H3 of the gluing machine G, Fig, 12. When arm III is momentarily rocked by cam H2 during the cycle of the box machine M, it initiates the cycle of the gluing machine G by causing cable H to rock lever H3 to withdraw the latch member II4 from engagement with the driven clutch member or dog H5 pivotally mounted on member H6 attached to shaft II'I. Release of the driven clutch member H5 permits spring H8 to move it into engagement with the driving clutch member H9 rotatably mounted on shaft H1 and continuously driven by motor I20 through a suitable drive, such as belt I2I, shaft I22 and worm I23. At the end of one revolution of shaft I I1, the dog I I 5 strikes the latch H4, which, in the meantime, has been returned to the position shown in Fig. 12 by biasing spring I24, and is thereby disengaged from the driving clutch member H9 to end the cycle of the gluing machine.

When the clutch of machine G is tripped, the carriage I24!) and suction roll I24a, by mechanism such as shown in the aforesaid Federwitz Patent #1,772,344, are reciprocated to remove a wrapper from the top of the stack S and to feed it toward the adhesive-applying roll I25, from which it is deflected onto the conveyor GC, preferably of the suction type described in the aforesaid Davis Patent #1,818,198, which transports it toward the box-machine conveyor C.

The drive for conveyor GC comprises the continuously rotating gear I26, driven by motor I20, which meshes with gear I21 freely to rotate on shaft I28 to which is attached one of the conveyor driving rolls I29, I30. The driving clutch member I 3| attached to or integral with gear I21 is adapted to engage the driven clutch member I32 slidably keyed to shaft I 28.

The cam I33 on plate I42, whose angular position with respect to shaft I Il may be adjusted, engages arm I34 at suitable time in the cycle of the gluing machine G to slide the driven member I32 of the conveyor clutch from engagement with the driving member I3I to terminate the movement of conveyor G0 which began when cam I35 on shaft 2 of the box machine M (Fig. 11) rocked lever I36 during the cycle of machine M.

Rod I3! is at one end connected to lever I36 of the box machine M, Fig. 11, and at its other end is connected at the gluing machine G, Fig. 12, to bell-crank lever I38 connected through link I39, lever I40 and shaft I4I to the operating arm I34 of the conveyor clutch member I32. Preferably the two conveyors G and GC begin their movement at or about the same time.

For all sizes of wrappers within the range of the box machine, the box-machine conveyor C is at rest for a large part of the cycle, specifically from about the 220 point of one cycle to the 60 point of the next cycle so that even when the box machine is in continuous operation at high speed, for example, in excess of thirty-five cycles or boxes per minute without interruption between cycles, the operator is afforded ample time to perform the simple acts of picking up a stayed or unstayed box and registering it on one of the wrappers on conveyor C.

The conveyor C is in motion when engaged by a wrapper being delivered thereto by conveyor GC and is operating at the same, or possibly a slightly higher speed.

Since, regardless of the size of the wrapper, its leading edge reaches the conveyor G0 at the same point in the cycle of the gluing machine, it is apparent that for difierent lengths of wrappers and the same length of travel of conveyor GC, the distance from the center line of the wrapper at the end of the conveyor step to the center line L of the registering station at the box machine would depend upon the length of the wrapper. Therefore, this distance would not be equal to an integral number of steps of conveyor C and the center lines of the wrappers would not coincide with line L after an integral number of steps of conveyor C. To avoid this difiiculty, and accommodate the system for wrappers of different lengths, provision for adjustment of the step of conveyor GC is made.

Specifically, for different sizes of wrappers, the cam I33 is adjusted, as provided by a slot in its supporting disk I42 through which bolt I43 extends releasably to clamp disk I42 to the fixed member 544 attached to shaft II'I, so that when conveyor GC comes to rest the wrapper to be delivered to conveyor C in the next cycle is in such position that it will, after delivery to and movement by conveyor C in the next cycle, be in such position that an integral number of steps of conveyor C will result in delivery of the wrapper in approximate registry at the transfer station adjacent the path of the form block.

For large wrappers, the step of conveyor GC is large, for example, the conveyor may start at about 60 of the box machine cycle and continue until about 340 of that cycle, whereas, for much smaller wrappers the step ends at about 280 of the wrapping-machine cycle.

During the first part of its movement in a cycle, the conveyor GC delivers a wrapper from the position of Fig. 12 to conveyor C which is at that time in motion and during a later part of its cycle conveyor GC receives a wrapper removed from the stack and delivers it to the position of Fig. 12. It is not, of course, necessary that conveyor GC be soshort that it can accommodate only one wrapper at a time, but to make it longer requires more floor space unless conveyor C is correspondingly reduced in length.

The bridging members I45 between the delivery end of conveyor GC and the receiving end of conveyor C prevent the wrappers from following the conveyor belt GC as it curves over roll I46. Preferably, the conveyor belt GC is split lengthwise into two or more sections, Fig. 11, and one or more of the bridging members I45 is provided with an extension extending into the slot or space between adjacent conveyor sections with its upper edge substantially flush with the face of the conveyor belt. If desirable, a light airblast may be directed upwardly between the rolls I46, I41 to assist in preventing the leading edges of the wrapper panels from curling under as they pass over the gap between the rolls. Since, during the transfer, the wrapper is held by suction exerted through one, or both, of the conveyors, depending upon its position at a particular instant, there is no opportunity for it to lose its proper spacing with respect to the wrappers previously delivered to conveyor C.

Briefly, to review the operation of the entire system, once for each cycle of the box machine M, a wrapper is removed from stack S, coated with adhesive, and delivered to conveyor GC, a wrapper is delivered by conveyor GC to conveyor C, an operator registers a stayed or unstayed box on a wrapper or conveyor C to form an assembly, conveyor C delivers an assembly to the transfer station adjacent the path of form block,

mechanism R aligns the assembly at the transfer station, transfer mechanism P moves the assembly to the receiving position of carriage 74 for transport into the path of the form block diu'ing the next cycle, carriage 14 at the beginning of the cycle moves the assembly received by it in the previous cycle into the path of the form block, and the form block moves downwardly to pass the assembly adjacent the sheet-applying tools and thence upwardly for removal of the completed box. The only manual operation necessary is that of registering a box or an unstayed box blank upon the wrapper or tabs on conveyor C; this operation, if desired, may be performed automatically by mechanism of the type disclosed and claimed in Stokes Patent #2318237.

Our invention is not restricted to the preferred arrangement specifically illustrated and described, but is coextensive in scope with the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A system comprising a machine for applying sheets to box structures, conveyor means for transporting adhesive-coated sheets toward said machine, mechanism for applying adhesive to said sheets, and means controlled by said machine to initiate movement of said conveyor means and controlled by said adhesive-applying mechanism to terminate movement of said conveyor means.

2. A system comprising a machine for applying sheets to box structures, mechanism for applying adhesive to the sheets, a conveyor for transporting sheets away from said adhesive-applying mechanism and toward said machine, and clutch means for controlling said conveyor actuated by said machine to initiate movement of said conveyor and actuated by said adhesive-applying mechanism to terminate movement of said conveyor.

3. A system comprising two mechanisms for operating in succession upon sheets, conveyor means for transporting sheets away from one mechanism and toward the other, and means for controlling said conveyor means actuated by one of said mechanisms to initiate operation of said conveyor means and actuated by the other of said mechanisms to terminate operation of said conveyor means.

4. A system comprising a machine for applying sheets to box structures, mechanism for applying adhesive to sheets, and intermittently-operating conveyor means for transporting sheets step-by-step away from said adhesive-applying mechanism toward said machine. said machine initiating and said adhesive-applying mechanism terminating each step.

5. A system comprising a machine for applying sheets to box structures, mechanism for applying adhesive to sheets, conveyors in tandem between said machine and said adhesive-applying mechanism, means for substantially concurrently initiating operation of said conveyors to effect delivery of a sheet to said machine and transfer 01' a sheet from one conveyor to another, and means for interrupting movement of said conveyors dissimultaneously to provide for transport of a sheet by one of said conveyors from said adhesive-applying mechanism while the other conveyor is at rest.

6. A system comprising a machine for applying sheets to box structures, mechanism for applying adhesive to sheets, a conveyor extending from said adhesive-applying mechanism, a second conveyor extending away from said first conveyor to said box machine, means controlled by said box machine for initiating operation of both conveyors and for terminating operation of said second conveyor, and means controlled by said adhesive-applying mechanism for terminating operation of said first conveyor.

7. A system comprising two mechanisms for operating in succession upon sheets, a conveyor extending from one of said mechanisms, a second conveyor extending away from said first conveyor to the other of said mechanisms, means controlled by one of said mechanisms to initiate operation of both of said conveyors and to terminate operation of one of them, and means controlled by the other of said mechanisms to termi nate the operation of the other of said conveyors.

8. A system comprising a machine for applying sheets to box structures, mechanism for removing sheets in succession from a stack, conveyor means for transporting sheets away from said mechanism toward said machine, and means for controlling operation of said conveyor means actuated by said machine to initiate movement of said conveyor means and actuated by said sheetremoving mechanism to terminate movement of said conveyor means.

9. A system comprising mechanism for removing sheets in succession from a stack, mechanism for operating upon the removed sheets, conveyor means for transporting sheets away from said first mechanism and toward said second mechanism, and means for controlling said conveyor means actuated by one of said mechanisms to initiate operation of said conveyor means and actuated by the other of said mechanisms to terminate the operation of said conveyor means.

10. A system comprising mechanism for removing sheets in succession from a stack, mechanism for operating upon the removed sheets, conveyor means for transporting sheets away from said first mechanism and toward said second mechanism, and means for controlling said conveyor means actuated by said second mechanism to initiate operation of said conveyor means and actuated by said first mechanism to terminate the operation of said conveyor means.

11. A system comprising a machine for applying sheets to box structures, mechanism for removing sheets from a stack, a conveyor extending from said sheet-removing mechanism, a sec ond conveyor extending away from said first.

conveyor to said machine, means controlled by said machine for initiating operation of said conveyors and for terminating operation of said second conveyor, and means controlled by said mechanism for terminating operation of said first conveyor.

12. A system comprising a cyclically-operating machine for applying sheets to box structures, cyclically-operating mechanism for removing sheets from a stack, a conveyor extending from said sheet-removing mechanism, a second conveyor extending away from said first conveyor to said machine, means controlled by said machine simultaneously to initiate operation of said conveyors and to terminate operation of said second conveyor at a predetermined time in the cycle of said machine, and means controlled by said sheet-removing mechanism for terminating operation of said first conveyor at a predetermined time in the cycle of said mechanism.

13. A system comprising a cyclically-operating machine for applying sheets to box structures, cyclically operating mechanism for applying adhesive to sheets, and conveyor means for transporting sheets step-by-step away from said adhesive-applying mechanism and toward said machine, said machine initiating each step of said conveyor at a predetermined time in its cycle and said adhesive-applying mechanism terminating each step at a predetermined time in its cycle.

14. A system comprising a cyclically-operating machine for applying sheets to box structures, cyclically operating mechanism for removing sheets from a stack, and conveyor means intermittently operated to transport sheets from said mechanism toward said machine, said machine initiating each operation of said conveyor means at a predetermined time in the cycle of said machine and said sheet-removing mechanism terminating each operation of the conveyor at a predetermined time in the cycle of said mechanism.

15. A system comprising cyclically-operating mechanisms for operating in succession upon sheets, conveyor means for transporting sheets away from one mechanism and toward the other, and means for controlling said conveyor means actuated by one of said mechanisms at a predetermined time in its cycle to initiate operation of said conveyor means and actuated by the other of said mechanisms at a predetermined point in its cycle to terminate operation of said conveyor means.

16. A system comprising cyclically-operating mechanisms for operating in succession upon sheets, one of said mechanisms initiating the cycle of the other, conveyor means for transporting sheets away from one mechanism and toward the other, and means for controlling said con veyor means actuated by one of said mechanisms at a predetermined time in its cycle to initiate operation of said conveyor means and actuated by the other of said mechanisms at a predetermined point in its cycle to terminate operation of said conveyor means.

1'7. A system comprising a cyclically-operating machine for applying sheets to box structures, cyclically-operating mechanism for applying adhesive to sheets, means controlled by said machine to initiate the cycle of said mechanism, and conveyor means for transporting sheets stepby-step. away from said adhesive-applying mechanism and toward said machine, said machine initiating each step at a predetermined time in its cycle and said adhesive-applying mechanism terminating each step at a predetermined time in its cycle.

18. A system comprising a cyclically-operating machine for applying sheets to box structures, cyclically-operating mechanism for removing sheets in succession from a stack, means controlled by said machine to initiate the cycle of said sheet-removing mechanism, and conveyor means intermittently operated to transport sheets from said mechanism toward said machine, said machine initiating each operation of said conveyor means at a predetermined time in the cycle of said machine and said sheet-removing mechanism terminating each operation of the conveyor at a predetermined time in the cycle of said mechanism.

19. A system for delivering sheets with their center lines in register with a desired line at a delivery station comprising a conveyor extending to said station, cyclically-operating means for moving said conveyor step-by-step, a second conveyor discharging sheets in succession onto said first conveyor, means effecting engagement of sheets in succession with said second conveyor at corresponding points in successive cycles of said operating means of said first conveyor, and operating means for said second conveyor timed to begin its movement substantially concurrently with each initiation of movement of said first conveyor and to discontinue its movement when the distance from the center line of the sheet to be discharged therefrom to said desired line at said delivery station is equal to an integral number of steps of said first conveyor.

20. A system comprising a box machine having reciprocating form-block structure and sheet applying tools, an intermittently operated conveyor extending adjacent the path of said formblock structure, means for transferring an assembly comprising box structure and a partiallyapplied wrapper or tabs from said conveyor into the path of said form block, mechanism for ap plying adhesive to wrappers or tabs, a conveyor for transporting wrappers or tabs from said mechanism to said first conveyor, and means for controlling operation of said second conveyor actuated by said box machine to initiate movement of said second conveyor and actuated by said adhesive-applying mechanism to terminate operation of said second conveyor.

21. A system comprising a box machine having reciprocating form-block structure and sheet-applying tools, an intermittently operated conveyor extending adjacent the path of said formblock structure, means for transferring an assembly comprising box structure and a partiallyapplied wrapper from said conveyor into the path of said form block, mechanism for feeding wrappers from a stack, a conveyor for transporting wrappers from said mechanism to said first conveyor, and means for controlling operation of said second conveyor actuated by said box machine to initiate movement of said second conveyor and actuated by said wrapper-feeding mechanism to terminate operation of said second conveyor.

22. A system comprising a conveyor for transporting a box structure, stop structure for engaging a box structure during transport by said conveyor, and means for preventing rebound of the box structure from said stop structure comprising means for applying air pressure to said box structure in the region adjacent said stop structure.

23. A system comprising a conveyor belt for transporting a box structure, stop structure for engaging a box structure during transport by said conveyor, and means for preventing rebound of the box structure from said stop structure comprising means for applying suction through said conveyor belt to said box structure when adjacent said stop structure.

24. A system comprising a conveyor for transporting a box structure, stop structure for engaging a box structure during transport by said conveyor, means for applying suction to said box structure as it approaches and engages said stop structure, mechanism for moving the box structure with respect to said conveyor after its engagement by said stop structure, and means for discontinuing application of suction to said box structure during its movement by said mechanism.

25. A system comprising an endless conveyor belt for transporting a box structure, and stop structure having a substantially vertical portion extending transversely of said belt to engage the leading panel of said box structure and a substantially horizontal portion for engaging the upper edge of said panel in event of tendency of the box structure to ride over said substantially vertical portion.

26. A system comprising a conveyor for transporting unstayed boxes, stop structure for engaging the leading panel of an unstayed box on said conveyor, and means for registering the box structure arrested by said stop structure comprising a pair of abutments movable in unison.

one of said abutments engaging the rear face of the trailing panel of the arrested box structure and the other of said abutments limiting the bending movement of said trailing panel when struck or engaged by said first abutment.

LUDWIG H. LANGE. CHARLES H. NITSCH. 

